DECAL Co-Hosts the Seventh Georgia Farm to School and Early Care and Education Summit with Georgia Organics

June 20, 2019| by Georgia Organics| in Farm to Preschool

For the first time in Summit history, the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) joined Georgia Organics to host the Seventh Georgia Farm to School and Early Care and Education Summit at Helms College in Macon, Ga. On June 7-8. The Summit was presented by the Georgia Farm to Early Care and Education Coalition and the Georgia Farm to School Alliance.

Summit Highlights

Nearly 300 early care and K-12 educators, farmers, school support staff, and agency partners attended.

Participants were able to participate in 30 educational and hands-on workshops.

The Summit was approved for up to six continuing education credits by the Georgia Professional Development System for Early Childhood Educators and seven Continuing Professional Education United by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

This partnership is especially poignant as the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this year committing to join forces supporting farm to school and farm to early care and education programs in Georgia. DECAL also became a member of the Golden Radish Awards Committee for the first-time last year. They presented the inaugural “Baby Golden Radish Award” to Bleckley County School District last year and will be awarding another school district this year!

“As a trusted voice for early care and education, it is important for Bright from the Start (DECAL) to partner with community organizations such as Georgia Organics in order to continue our mission and goal of providing not only quality education but also access to healthy and nutritious meals to Georgia’s children,” said LaMonika Jones, Procurement and Purchasing Compliance Specialist at DECAL. Partnerships such as the one between Bright from the Start and Georgia Organics further highlights our commitment to raising and developing children not just at their earliest stages but well into adolescence.”

Georgia Organics and DECAL representatives posing after the Memorandum of Understanding signing.

The two organizations have been instrumental in championing Farm to Early Care and Education in the state through the Georgia Farm to Early Care and Education Coalition. The Georgia Farm to Early Care and Education Coalition is a network that joins stakeholders in early care, food, farming, and nutrition to coalesce resources, support farm to early care and education, and create a dialogue for building statewide programming.

GaDOE, a coalition member, member of the Farm to School Alliance and Golden Radish Awards Committee partner, continues to support early education and farm to school throughout the state. “The Georgia Department of Education” is even more poised to help lead and support the important farm to school and farm to early care and education work happening statewide,” said GaDOE Food and School Specialist Holly Thaw. “The department’s new logo, which ties in nutrition as a core value, symbolizes a renewed commitment to improving child well-being from cafeteria to classroom.”

Summit attendees were challenged to connect and learn with fellow educators and support staff as well as adopt practices to support local farmers in their respective schools and communities. Attendees and speakers expressed the following about their experiences:

“Two years ago I started with a little farm. I realized it was easy to work with the children with math and science. Children can use different tools depending on their curiosity.” – Roxana Valdivia, Roxana’s House Early Head Start Program Gwinnett County

“The amount of engagement and high energy solidified it for me,” said chef, farmer, and Georgia Organics Board Member Matthew Raiford. Everyone was vocal about their respective processes so everyone could learn best practices from one another.”

“We had a really positive response from the procurement session. I think procurement can be a daunting topic but we were able to present it in a way that was accessible and include best practices for farm to school and ece.” – Chef Asata of Georgia Organics Farm to School and ECE and Small Bites

“This is my first Summit! It’s very impactful to apply the things I’m learning here to my work at DECAL. Being here makes me feel connected and supported.” – Diana Myers DECAL Nutrition Health Educator and former Georgia Organics Farm to School Intern

“As an intern at Georgia Organics, this is my first time attending the conference. Not only am I super inspired by everyone who is involved, but am fortunate to have access to the resources. While I am learning so much from our community partners and participants, I also now have access to resources that I can use for my own future programs and initiatives.” – Myeisha Coggins Farm to School Summer 2019 Intern

DECAL Callie posing with conference attendees.

The next Farm to School and Early Care and Education Summit will take place in 2021. Additional details will be provided in Spring 2021.